UEFA Cup final official launch

The run-up to next year’s UEFA Cup Final in Manchester got underway today (Thursday 6 December 2007) with an event to reveal the designs to publicise the event.

This year’s designs have been created by celebrated Manchester-based artist Liam Spencer, one of the rising stars of the British contemporary arts scene.

He has created three major pieces of work that will be used on materials ranging from stadium decoration and posters to websites and match tickets.

One shows a glowing aerial view of the City of Manchester Stadium, where the UEFA Cup Final will be played on Wednesday 14 May 2008, another is a stylised image of the distinctive Stadium structure, and the third is an image of football fans enjoying the spectacle of a top-level match.

The designs got an enthusiastic reception from the people at the event at the Stadium today – including UEFA Cup Final ambassador Denis Law, who was European Footballer of the Year in 1964 and who played for both Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC during his outstanding career.

Also there were Mr Geoff Thompson, chairman of the Football Association and Vice-President of UEFA, Mr Alistair Mackintosh, Chief Executive of Manchester City Football Club, and Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council.

Liam Spencer spoke about the process of creating the artwork and answered questions about it.

Sir Richard said: "The UEFA Cup Final is a great opportunity for Manchester to show the world how we enjoy international events that bring benefits and investment to all those who live and enjoy themselves in the city.

"We are delighted that the UEFA Cup Final will promote Manchester through two of our greatest passions, our love of sport and our love of culture.

"Liam Spencer's work is renowned for its Manchester connections and it's totally appropriate that UEFA has chosen his images to launch the UEFA Cup Final 2008.”

Mr Thompson said: “The City of Manchester Stadium is a fitting stage for a match of the importance of the UEFA Cup Final, and I'm sure that Manchester as a real football city will make it a fantastic, fan-friendly event.”

Mr Mackintosh said:

“Liam’s work reflects the pride that everybody here at Manchester City feels in hosting the UEFA Cup Final. The final will be a terrific opportunity to showcase our stadium and the city.”

The idea that inspired the creation of a new identity for each final was to develop a specific design featuring the UEFA Cup and including a distinctive flavour of the host city. The objective is to help promote the final and enhance the prestige of one of the Europe’s biggest sporting occasions.

Preparations for the UEFA Cup Final will include a grassroots tournament of 3v3 street football matches, starting in January and culminating in the finals in the city centre in the week of the Final.

In mid-March the UEFA Cup will be handed over to the City of Manchester by the holders Sevilla FC. The trophy will then go on a tour of venues across Manchester.

During the week of the Final, there will also be festivals for football fans in the city centre, with music, entertainment, food and drink.

Tickets for the final will go on sale on 14 February 2008 exclusively via UEFA’s website uefa.com. The ticket application phase will close on 14 March 2008. All applicants will be informed if they are among the lucky winners or not.

-official uefa press release

Shooting Stars

'Its just not good enough' as the bloke about ten rows behind me has taken to near constantly singing. He has a point if he is referring to the 'strikers' currently plying there trade for city.
The worst thing about today is probably the fact that it wasn't too bad a performance shooting aside and Reading for 60mins were there for the taking , but too there credit showed why they are knocking on the door of a Uefa cup place by not been at there best and managing to pick up three points. Credit to those who travelled as well , thats one of the biggest away turnouts and city in a long time.

City started pretty brightly and did manage to dictate most of the early play with Ireland and Barton managing to gain the upper hand in the midfield and Vassell looked lively upfront. Not too sure why we are playing the 3-5-2 at home though , maybe Pearce thinks it cute. Barton failed to the lift the ball over the keeper in the best chance of the first half , and the weight that is been put on his shoulders too produce goals seems a bit too heavy for the lad.
Reading did however fire more than some warning shots and had a Lita goal turned in dubious circumstances.

City also managed too have a great chance though Vassell just after the break but he contrived too miss from all of 6 yards and that little voice in your head goes oh-ho.

And so it proved to be as Leroy Lita , who Richards had managed to out muscle for much of the game and keep quiet, popped up on the end of two precision balls (though I will be have a long hard look at richard dunnes positioning when I see them again) to nail shut the game for Reading.

So lets have an in-depth look at our strikers for the remainder of the season :

Bernado Corradi - Not good enough
Georgious Samaras - Not good enough
Darius Vassell - Not good enough
Paul Dickov - Wasnt good enough 3 yrs ago
Ishmael Miller - Unproven
Danny Sturridge - Unproven

Hmmmmmmmmm.
When 36000 people can see week in week out what the problem is why the hell did we end up going to within 30 minutes of the close of the transfer window to be turned down for a striker ??